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Isothermal pumping analysis for high-altitude tethered balloons
1Department of Engineering , University of Cambridge , Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
Royal Society Open Science
|November 7, 2015
Summary
Pumping fluids like hydrogen to high-altitude balloons is feasible for power and buoyancy. However, transporting sulfur dioxide or particle slurries presents significant challenges due to temperature and pressure limitations.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Atmospheric Science
Background:
- High-altitude tethered balloons offer versatile applications in communication, surveillance, meteorology, and climate engineering.
- Tethers can function as conduits for fluid transport from ground level to maintain balloon systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the fluid pumping requirements for delivering substances to high-altitude balloons.
- To assess the feasibility of transporting hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, and powder slurries via tether.
Main Methods:
- Isothermal analysis was employed to model pressure and velocity variations along the delivery pipe.
- Evaluated transport conditions for hydrogen, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particle slurries.
Main Results:
- Transporting hydrogen for fuel cells and buoyancy is achievable within tolerable pressure and temperature limits.
- Sulfur dioxide transport necessitates high temperatures, potentially compromising tether strength.
- Particle slurries for climate engineering reduce pipe size but approach maximum pressure limits.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogen delivery to high-altitude balloons is technically viable with current pumping technology.
- Sulfur dioxide transport is limited by thermal constraints and material integrity.
- Climate engineering applications using slurries face pressure-related challenges for tether integrity.
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